Lived Realities and Structural Barriers: Race, Ethnicity and Activism in Higher Education – An EDI Dialogue [Hybrid]

How do we challenge structural inequalities in higher education not just through policy, but through purposeful action? How can universities confront the realities of racism in ways that move beyond statements toward systemic change? And what role can academic activism play when the very institutions we work within are part of the problem?

This half-day symposium is an open invitation to think together about these questions and more. Centring the lived experiences of racially minoritised staff and students, it explores how structural barriers such as the degree awarding gap, institutional racism, and whiteness shape everyday life in academia—and what it means to resist them. We begin with a keynote and interactive workshop by Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury, co-author of Anti-Racist Scholar-Activism, who will reflect on the contradictions and possibilities of doing justice-oriented work within the academy. Later, Professor Yasmin Hussain will examine the degree awarding gap in detail, drawing attention to how deep-rooted inequality continues to affect outcomes for racially minoritised students.

This is a space for listening, for questioning, for learning, and for collective reflection. Whether you are a student, academic, practitioner or activist, join us for an honest conversation about race, resistance, and the futures we want to build in higher education.

This hybrid event is available to attend in person and online (see ticket types when registering). There will be a lunch at the end of the talks for those attending in person. The in-person venue is Baines Wing SR (2.10) - see the room information for details on how to find the room and its accessibility.

Please see the full session format below.

Session Format

10:00 – 10:30: Morning coffee and networking – a relaxed start for everyone to connect.
10:30 – 10:40: Introduction to the day’s theme and speakers by Dr Nasir Mahmood (Teaching Fellow and EDI Lead, School of Education, Leeds).
10:40 – 11:55: Keynote 1 – Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury: Anti-Racist Scholar-Activism, Resistance, and Purpose (including interactive workshop and Q&A)

11:55-12:10 – Comfort Break

12:10 – 12:55: Keynote 2 – Professor Yasmin Hussain: Unveiling the Degree Awarding Gap: Race, Racism, and Higher Education (including Q&A)
12:55 – 13:05: EDI updates from Nick Burdett (Faculty EDI Manager) on current initiatives and collaboration opportunities.
13:05 – 14:00: Light lunch and informal conversations to keep the dialogue going.

Keynotes

Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury - Keynote 1: Anti-Racist Scholar-Activism, Resistance, and Purpose

Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury is a Reader in Sociology at the University of Manchester and a leading voice in the study of racism, education, and anti-racist praxis. His research critically examines the institutional and cultural mechanisms that reproduce racial inequality, particularly within education and policing. As co-author of the award-winning Anti-Racist Scholar-Activism (Manchester University Press, 2021), he explores the tensions and possibilities of pursuing socially just work within institutions often resistant to change.

In this keynote and interactive workshop, Remi will invite participants to reflect on the principles and practices of anti-racist scholar-activism—highlighting its potential as a form of resistance, as well as the challenges it faces within the context of higher education. Drawing on a wide range of research and lived realities, including insights from Anti-Racist Scholar-Activism, he will examine the contradictions of the university as an imperial institution and the complex navigation required of scholar-activists facing institutional barriers, backlash, and complicity.

The session will explore the role of universities during moments of socio-racial crisis and anti-racist mobilisation, and will encourage participants to critically engage with their own positionality. Together, we will consider strategies for meaningful resistance within the academy and explore how academic work can remain grounded in and accountable to communities of struggle.

Professor Yasmin Hussain - Keynote 2: Unveiling the Degree Awarding Gap: Race, Racism, and Higher Education

Professor Yasmin Hussain is an esteemed sociologist (Department of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds) with a long-standing research focus on race, ethnicity, and inequalities in higher education. Her work has explored the educational trajectories of South Asian communities, experiences of racism and Islamophobia, and the structural barriers that shape academic outcomes. She has published widely on issues such as identity, migration, and the racialised impact of policy, contributing critical perspectives to British and international sociology.

In this keynote, Professor Hussain will focus on the persistent degree awarding gap in UK higher education, particularly as it affects racially minoritised students. Grounded in empirical research and institutional analysis, she will examine the underlying causes of the gap and reflect on how systemic inequality—rather than student deficit—must be addressed. Her talk will offer valuable insights for institutions aiming to develop more equitable and inclusive academic environments.

This event is organised by the School of Education in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences Equity, Diversity & Inclusion team. If you have any queries about this event, please email Dr Izzy Jenkinson (Faculty Events Coordinator) at I.K.S.Jenkinson@leeds.ac.uk.